The Effect of Lifestyle on Skin Aging

Background: Skin aging is a natural process, and it has many causes. Skin aging can be a result of a process of deterioration of the skin structure and a decrease in normal skin function. As much as 97% of skin aging factors is extrinsic, while the remaining 3% of the factors is intrinsic. Extrinsic factors are closely related to lifestyle; therefore it is necessary to further investigate the effects of lifestyle on skin aging. Skin aging may not have a direct correlation to mortality but the process of aging itself can lead to depression, demoralization, and shame at the extreme to the point of accepting the changes that occur with age. This shows that aging plays an important role in decreasing the quality of human life and youth well-being index, especially in women. Purpose: To determine the effects of lifestyle on skin aging. Methods: This was a case-control study. A case means a person with heavy aging, and control means an individual with mild aging. The data were obtained from medical records and anamneses. Data on lifestyle were collected through interviews with open-ended questions. Subjects who met the inclusion criteria were shortlisted, and their skins were examined as per the Glogau scale. Result: Multivariate test results showed significant results on the variable UV light exposure (p = 0.017), use of sunscreen (p = 0.002), use of anti-aging cream (p = 0.036), and Vitamin D (p = 0.040) against skin aging. Meanwhile, other variables showed no significant results. Conclusion: Lifestyle has an important role in the occurrence of skin aging. However, an in-depth research is needed to determine how many external factors affect skin aging.

Edible Bird’s Nest, an Asian Health Food Supplement, Possesses Moisturizing Effect by Regulating Expression of Filaggrin in Skin Keratinocyte

Edible bird’s nest (EBN) has been consumed as a Chinese delicacy for hundreds of years; the functions of which have been proposed to prevent lung disease, strengthen immune response, and restore skin youthfulness. To support the skin function of EBN, the water extract and the enzymatic digest of EBN with enriched digested peptides were tested in cultured keratinocyte, HaCaT cell line. The effects of EBN extract and digest in inducing proteins crucial for skin moisturizing were determined in both in vitro and ex vivo models. In cultured keratinocytes, the expressions of S100-fused type proteins contributing to skin barrier function in the stratum corneum, e.g. filaggrin and filaggrin-2, were determined in both mRNA and protein levels, which were markedly induced in the treatment of EBN extract or digest. The EBN-induced gene transcriptions of filaggrin and filaggrin-2 were mediated by activation of p38 MAPK pathway and various transcription factors, e.g. GATA3, PPARα, PPARβ, and PPARγ: these transcriptional factors were markedly activated by the digested products of EBN, as compared to the extract, in cultured keratinocytes. By using atomic force microscopy (AFM), the EBN-treated keratinocyte was shown to have more liquid-like morphology, as compared to a control cell. The EBN digest showed better induction on these moisturizing effects as compared to the extract. These lines of evidence therefore suggested the water moisturizing effect of EBN in skin function.

The noncoding RNA PRANCR regulates splicing of Fibronectin-1 to control keratinocyte proliferation and migration

Most human genes undergo alternative splicing (AS), but the regulation and functional consequences of most splicing events remain unknown. Long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) have recently been discovered to have novel roles in the regulation of AS. Here we investigate whether PRANCR, a lncRNA recently identified to be essential for epidermis formation, functions by controlling AS of cell fate genes. Using transcriptome-wide analysis, we identified 238 exonic splicing events regulated by PRANCR. Among these is alternative splicing of an exon containing the extra domain A (EDA) in the gene fibronectin-1 (FN1). Expression of the FN1-EDA+ isoform is enriched in proliferating keratinocytes. We find that PRANCR regulates EDA inclusion by controlling expression of the serine/arginine-rich splicing factors (SRSFs) 1 and 7. Depletion of PRANCR or FN1-EDA resulted in decreased proliferation, increased CDKN1A/p21, and inhibition of keratinocyte migration. We find that these cellular phenotypes can be explained by reduced phosphorylation of focal adhesion kinase (FAK). Collectively, these results identify a lncRNA regulating skin function through alternative splicing of a cell fate gene.

Constructing an Optimal Scar Tissue Mobilizer

Background This project aimed to create a device optimal for mobilizing scar tissue. To do this, a Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation (TENS) circuit and a rotating scar massage ball was constructed into one cohesive device. The TENS portion of the device aims to help relieve pain around the scar tissue, and the massager works to mobilize the scar tissue and relieve extra tension in the area. Mobilization of scar tissue can help patients who have undergone surgery or other physical trauma to attain proper skin function without pain and/or excessive tension. Results The rotating scar massage ball puts out 16 Newtons of centrifugal, rotating, force. This means that it is powerful enough to properly massage the area, but not too strong to the point where it would cause pain for the user. Conclusions This device utilizes two effective methods of pain relief and scar mobilization, making it optimal for the painless mobilization of scar tissue. It could be used by patients at home and by physical therapists in an office setting to help patients both mobilize their damaged, scarred tissue and relive pain around the affected area.

Effect of the Oral Administration of Common Evening Primrose Sprout (Oenothera biennis L.) Extract on Skin Function Improvement in UVB-irradiated Hairless Mice

Most of the studies on common evening primrose (Oenothera biennis L.) are focused on its oils (isolated from seed, root, and stem tissues). We aimed to investigate the effect of the oral administration of OBS-E on the improvement of skin function in skin-damaged hairless mice exposed to excessive ultraviolet B (UVB) radiation owing to the preliminary in vitro findings regarding the antioxidant, anti-wrinkle, and skin moisturizing activities of OBS-E. OBS-E administration for 14 weeks did not significantly affect the body weight or clinical signs. Significant reductions were observed in wrinkle parameters (area, number, length, and depth, and metalloproteinase levels) in OBS-E-administered mice compared with those in UVB-irradiated control mice. OBS-E significantly increased skin elasticity and hyaluronic acid content, but it significantly decreased transepidermal water loss. Histomorphometrical analysis revealed that OBS-E significantly reduced the epidermal thickness, area of the collagen-occupied region, and number of microfolds and inflammatory and mast cells. These results demonstrate that OBS-E can effectively enhance skin functions in terms of ameliorating wrinkle formation, promoting skin-moisturization, enhancing skin barrier function, and inhibiting inflammatory reactions. The obtained results provide good starting point for the continuation in the process of developing new inner beauty products based on OBS-E.

The protease corin regulates electrolyte homeostasis in eccrine sweat glands

Sweating is a basic skin function in body temperature control. In sweat glands, salt excretion and reabsorption are regulated to avoid electrolyte imbalance. To date, the mechanism underlying such regulation is not fully understood. Corin is a transmembrane protease that activates atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP), a cardiac hormone essential for normal blood volume and pressure. Here, we report an unexpected role of corin in sweat glands to promote sweat and salt excretion in regulating electrolyte homeostasis. In human and mouse eccrine sweat glands, corin and ANP are expressed in the luminal epithelial cells. In corin-deficient mice on normal- and high-salt diets, sweat and salt excretion is reduced. This phenotype is associated with enhanced epithelial sodium channel (ENaC) activity that mediates Na+ and water reabsorption. Treatment of amiloride, an ENaC inhibitor, normalizes sweat and salt excretion in corin-deficient mice. Moreover, treatment of aldosterone decreases sweat and salt excretion in wild-type (WT), but not corin-deficient, mice. These results reveal an important regulatory function of corin in eccrine sweat glands to promote sweat and salt excretion.

Identifying a Role of Red and White Wine Extracts in Counteracting Skin Aging: Effects of Antioxidants on Fibroblast Behavior

Dermal fibroblasts are the main actor in many proteins’ secretion, including collagen, preserving skin function. Free radicals are involved in skin aging and damages involving different cellular components. The imbalance between reactive oxygen species (ROS) amount and natural antioxidant enzymes negatively affects skin homeostasis. Natural compounds have recently emerged as a potential anti-aging tool in tissue regeneration. In the present paper we evaluated the antioxidant activity of white and red wines, considering their probable use, as raw materials, for the formulation of cosmetic products with anti-aging properties. We studied a method that would allow the removal of the alcoholic fraction of wines and determined their composition by LC-MS analysis. We then tested the possible cytotoxic effects of red and white wines on fibroblasts by 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium (MTT) assay, and their antioxidant activity by the catalase activity test in stressing conditions. Finally, we evaluated their anti-aging potential through the β-galactosidase colorimetric assay. Our results showed that wine extracts exhibit a remarkable antioxidant and anti-aging activity, especially on cells exposed to a marked stressful event. These properties could suggest their possible application as cosmetical products for skin regeneration.

Skin Immunomodulation during Regeneration: Emerging New Targets

Adipose-Derived Stem Cells (ADSC) are present within the hypodermis and are also expected to play a pivotal role in wound healing, immunomodulation, and rejuvenation activities. They orchestrate, through their exosome, the mechanisms associated to cell differentiation, proliferation, and cell migration by upregulating genes implicated in different functions including skin barrier, immunomodulation, cell proliferation, and epidermal regeneration. ADSCs directly interact with their microenvironment and specifically the immune cells, including macrophages and T and B cells, resulting in differential inflammatory and anti-inflammatory mechanisms impacting, in return, ADSCs microenvironment and thus skin function. These useful features of ADSCs are involved in tissue repair, where the required cell proliferation, angiogenesis, and anti-inflammatory responses should occur rapidly in damaged sites. Different pathways involved have been reported such as Growth Differentiation Factor-11 (GDF11), Tumor Growth Factor (TGF)-β, Metalloproteinase (MMP), microRNA, and inflammatory cytokines that might serve as specific biomarkers of their immunomodulating capacity. In this review, we try to highlight ADSCs’ network and explore the potential indicators of their immunomodulatory effect in skin regeneration and aging. Assessment of these biomarkers might be useful and should be considered when designing new clinical therapies using ADSCs or their specific exosomes focusing on their immunomodulation activity.

Living in Your Skin: Microbes, Molecules, and Mechanisms

ABSTRACT Human skin functions as a physical, chemical, and immune barrier against the external environment while also providing a protective niche for its resident microbiota, known as the skin microbiome. Cooperation between the microbiota, host skin cells, and the immune system is responsible for maintenance of skin health, and a disruption to this delicate balance, such as by pathogen invasion or a breach in the skin barrier, may lead to impaired skin function. In this minireview, we describe the role of the microbiome in microbe, host, and immune interactions under distinct skin states, including homeostasis, tissue repair, and wound infection. Furthermore, we highlight the growing number of diverse microbial metabolites and products that have been identified to mediate these interactions, particularly those involved in host-microbe communication and defensive symbiosis. We also address the contextual pathogenicity exhibited by many skin commensals and provide insight into future directions in the skin microbiome field.